It’s been 10 months since Rebecca Yarros released “Onyx Storm,” and fans are growing increasingly desperate for dragon rider Violet Sorrengail’s story to continue.
“Onyx Storm” was the third book in Yarros’ “Empyrean” series, following “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame.” It centers on Violet’s journey to become a dragon rider and fight forces of dark magic at Basgiath War College. The series is set to have five novels when it is complete, all of which will be published by Entangled’s fantasy imprint, Red Tower.
“Onyx Storm” — the fastest-selling adult novel released in 20 years, according to The New York Times — ended on a cliffhanger, so Yarros’ readers have been clamoring to get their hands on the next romantasy novel in the series since the moment they finished book three.
Yarros has yet to start writing the next “Empyrean” novel, but she has offered clues about book four.
The rest of this article has spoilers for the “Empyrean” series.
Yarros didn’t work on the ‘Empyrean’ novel immediately after ‘Onyx Storm’ was published
Yarros released the first three books in the “Empyrean” series in under two years. “Fourth Wing” came out in April 2023, “Iron Flame” was released in October 2023, and “Onyx Storm” hit shelves in January 2025.
Fans shouldn’t expect Yarros to write the next series installment at the same pace. Speaking at an engagement in Philadelphia on January 25, Yarros said she wouldn’t commit to a release date for the fourth “Empyrean” novel, as she was writing a contemporary novel first.
She also said she planned to take time off to be with her family before she writes the fourth book.
Yarros also told Elle that she intended to rest before returning to writing because the amount of work she did in recent years wasn’t good for her mentally or physically, as she has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and POTS.
Yarros stayed true to her word, sharing photos of herself on vacation with her family on Instagram in the months after “Onyx Storm” was released. Then, in June, she shared that she had started writing her next contemporary novel. She also shared a photo of the office in her new home, which has a large portrait of a scene from “Fourth Wing” and a fireplace with dragon sculptures built into it.
The fourth book will hopefully address unanswered questions from ‘Onyx Storm’
Many fans are finding it particularly difficult to wait for the next “Empyrean” novel because of the ending of “Onyx Storm.”
At the end of the book, Xaden used more of his venin power, giving into the dark side of his transition; another unnamed dragon rider turned venin; Andarna returned to Violet after her time away with the irids; and Violet woke up with a wedding ring and blessing of her marriage to Xaden from the goddess Dunne with no memory of the last 12 hours of her life. In the book’s final line, her fellow rider Imogen reveals she used her signet power to wipe Violet’s memory of the night — at her request.
Violet’s brother, Brennan, also revealed that six dragon eggs and four riders, including Xaden and his best friend, Garrick Tavis, are missing.
Hopefully, the fourth book in the “Empyrean” series will reveal what happened between Violet and Xaden, where Xaden and the other missing riders are, the location of the missing eggs, what Andarna learned from her time with the irids, and how Xaden’s additional use of his venin powers harmed his soul.
Likewise, Violet will likely still be searching for a cure to turning venin to bring Xaden back, but as his wife, she also becomes the Duchess of Tyrrendor. She will have new power and responsibility in his absence, and readers will have to wait to see how she balances her new role while developing her signets.
Yarros shared some clues for book four while promoting ‘Onyx Storm’
Yarros went on an “Onyx Storm” book tour after the book was released in January, offering some insight into the future of the series as she connected with fans.
For instance, at an event in Los Angeles on January 21, Yarros said, “Someone you love won’t make it in book four.” That comment isn’t that surprising, as beloved characters have died in each installment of the series. However, Yarros got more specific with her hints as her book tour continued.
At an event in St. Louis on January 31, Yarros shared that readers have more to discover about the isles Violet explores in “Onyx Storm.” When host Lexi Ryan asked her why there was no map of the isles included in “Onyx Storm,” Yarros said it “was deemed to be too spoilery” by her editorial team, suggesting Violet doesn’t know all she will about the isles by the end of book three.
Then, speaking at an event in Denver on February 2, Yarros shared clues about who Xaden’s new venin brother could be.
“I would pay attention to who’s missing at the end,” she said. “I would pay attention to someone who feels like whatever they have given is not enough, which is always the case when you turn venin.”
Fans think Xaden’s cousin Bodhi Durran, Garrick, or even Violet’s brother Brennan could fit that description at the end of “Onyx Storm.”
Yarros also discussed a plot device she uses that may have consequences for the series. After riders bond a dragon at threshing at Basgiath, the rider announces the dragon’s name to the Scribes so it can be recorded. However, Yarros pointed out to fans that the dragons never speak their name to the Scribes directly. It’s possible some riders don’t share their real names or that dragons lie to their riders, which could help the children of rebels bond dragons their relatives previously bonded, giving them second signet powers. The potential for faux dragon identities could also have other ramifications for the series.
Speaking more on signet powers in Denver, Yarros said readers had only seen “like 10%” of Violet’s dream-walking abilities, in part because others who developed the power would have been killed, making it difficult for Violet to learn how to use the signet.
“There’s probably one person alive that can train her,” Yarros said, though she gave no information about who that person is.
She also said Xaden’s inntinnsic signet has only reached “like 50%” of its potential, so his abilities will likely grow in book four.
In addition, Yarros revealed at the Los Angeles Festival of Books in April 2025 that she has a title picked out for the fourth book, though she didn’t say what it was.
Yarros offered more hints about the next ‘Empyrean’ novel in October
On October 24, Yarros appeared at Romantasy Bookcon in Orlando, hosted by Fabled Fantasy Events. She spoke with the hosts of the “Fantasy Fangirls” podcast, Lexi Ayala and Nicole Holleman, about the “Empyrean” series, and Yarros offered hints and sneak peeks at book four.
For instance, Yarros discussed how the dramatic ending of “Onyx Storm” will impact the next book, telling Ayala and Holleman that readers will know what happened to Violet during her 12 missing hours by the novel’s end.
Likewise, when the duo asked Yarros about a scene she was excited to write in the next “Empyrean” novel, she said, “I’m really excited to write the moment Violet realizes why Xaden married her. That I am pumped for.”
Of course, Xaden loves Violet, but considering he had turned venin and the marriage would give Violet political power as the Duchess of Tyrrendor, there is likely more to their union than meets the eye.
Yarros also warned that readers “should really be prepared in book four to see Xaden enter his villain era,” indicating his marriage to Violet won’t stop him from going full venin in the next “Empyrean” novel.
The “Fantasy Fangirls” also asked Yarros if Imogen had been wiping Violet’s memories at other times in the “Empyrean” series, which many readers had been wondering after the ending of “Onyx Storm.” Rather than giving a direct answer, Yarros said, “I think it depends on what you believe of Imogen’s character. What has Imogen shown you of her character? What has she told Violet about her signet?”
In the “Empyrean” series, readers only see Imogen wipe memories when Violet or Xaden specifically ask her to do so. However, much of the series is only told from Violet’s limited perspective, so there may have been occasions when Imogen wiped people’s memories without Violet’s knowledge.
Likewise, Yarros addressed some of her readers’ concerns surrounding Bodhi, as there is a contingent of “Empyrean” fans who think Xaden’s cousin has feelings for Violet, saying, “Bodhi has a thing for what Xaden has. But he doesn’t want to.”
Her response indicates that Bodhi may be jealous of Xaden rather than in love with Violet. And considering he is one of the potential candidates to have turned venin at the end of “Onyx Storm,” Yarros’ response is particularly eyebrow-raising.
Yarros also gave some hints about the structure of the next book, telling Ayala and Holleman that she plans to offer multiple points of view in the narration of book four. She even specified that some portion of the book will be told from Sloane Mairi’s perspective.
Finally, Yarros told readers to pay attention to the black dragons in the “Empyrean” series, encouraging them to ask themselves why there are so few black dragons in the world, adding that it’s “very relevant” that two new baby black dragons hatched in “Iron Flame.”
It will still be a while until the next “Empyrean” book is published, but hopefully Yarros’ clues can tide readers over while they wait. In the meantime, they can read other romantasy novels to make the wait a bit more bearable.
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